#dWP-VW.THINKTANK I NEWS.BLOG

China’s push to improve the finances of cash-strapped localities will mean they have less money to spend on big infrastructure projects because for the first time funds from the sale of new local government special bonds are being used to repay old loans.

Bitcoin is back in the vicinity of an all-time peak, supported by a series of developments highlighting the deepening embrace of the digital-asset industry in the US under crypto cheerleader Donald Trump.

The yellow metal has declined from a record as the economic backdrop has changed.

Funding for European artificial intelligence startups, while still less than a quarter of US figures, hit a record high this year thanks to massive investments in newcomers building chatbots and self-driving cars.

Lebanon and the Hezbollah militia have reached agreement on a US plan for a cease-fire with Israel, Reuters reported on Monday.

Key European countries may need to double defense spending to meet the challenge of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine as well as the possibility of less American support in a Donald Trump presidency, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence report.

Catch up: Russia threatens “spiral of tension”; “Hong Kong 47” sentenced

Catch up: Russia threatens “spiral of tension”; “Hong Kong 47” sentenced

Northvolt, der für Europa wichtige schwedische Produzent von Akkus für E-Autos, taumelt und könnte bereits nächste Woche in Insolvenz gehen. Dazu berichtete die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters am Montag, Northvolt habe seit September seine – bereits gedrosselten – Produktionsziele verfehlt. In Northvolt haben unter anderem europäische Autohersteller Milliarden investiert. Das Start-up gilt als praktisch letzte Hoffnung für Europa, in dem zentralen Bereich der grünen Technologiewende mit China und den USA noch mithalten zu können.

Europe should pool its resources in areas like defense and climate as its productivity growth falters and the world fragments into rival blocs, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said.

Confidence among US homebuilders advanced to a seven-month high in November on a jump in sales expectations and optimism a Trump administration will ease regulatory burdens.

Europe will see economic activity weaken if the US imposes tariffs, according to European Central Bank Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras.

The European Central Bank is almost certain to cut interest rates by a quarter point in December, according to Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras.

China’s growing assistance to Russia for its war in Ukraine “will and must have consequences,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned as top European Union diplomats met in Brussels Monday.

Negotiators at COP29 are struggling to forge a consensus to boost funding to help poor countries. The fading US role has created a bigger opening for China.

European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos warned that high levels of sovereign debt could prevent governments from addressing long-term economic challenges and consign them to low growth.

Economists have given up hope that Germany can avoid a second consecutive year of shrinking output, according to a Bloomberg survey.

European Central Bank Governing Council member Joachim Nagel sees the threat of a further fragmentation of the global economy, which could present central banks with new challenges in the form of higher or more volatile inflation.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said last week central bankers are keeping a close eye on housing inflation, which “has yet to fully normalize.” They could be waiting more than a year.

Die USA haben der Ukraine grünes Licht für den Einsatz von US-Waffen mit hoher Reichweite gegen Ziele in Russland gegeben. Das berichten die Nachrichtenagenturen Reuters und AFP, die sich auf mehrere Quellen beziehen. Und auch „New York Times“ („NYT“) und „Washington Post“ schreiben, dass US-Präsident Joe Biden die bisher geltenden Beschränkungen für an die Ukraine gelieferte Waffen aufgehoben habe.

Catch up: Ukraine gets long-range missile go-ahead; Israel continues campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon

Gold will rally to a record next year on central-bank buying and US interest rate cuts, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which listed the metal among top commodity trades for 2025 and said prices could extend gains during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Die erste Woche der Weltklimakonferenz (COP29) ist geschlagen. Die Vorzeichen waren denkbar schlecht, die Verhandlungen gestalten sich dementsprechend zäh. Kleinen Erfolgen stehen noch viele ungeklärte Fragen mit verhärteten Fronten gegenüber. Große Gräben zeigen sich vor allem bei der Klimafinanzierung. Aserbaidschan als Gastgeberland erweist sich bisher als wenig hilfreich und punktet vor allem mit diplomatischen Fauxpas.

Beijing’s first line of defense against higher tariffs is likely to be its currency. Good thing that it fits in with a dour economy.

Rob Subbaraman is preparing for his second Trump presidency with a new accessory in his economist toolkit: the head of global markets research at Nomura Holdings Inc. has downloaded Truth Social, the President-elect’s conservative social media platform.

Finance’s marquee names are ready to gatecrash the artificial-intelligence party.

After almost 1,000 days resisting the Russian invasion, Ukraine’s allies are pushing Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider new ways to lure Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table as they seek an end to the fighting.

Xi Jinping used his final meeting with Joe Biden to send a clear message to Donald Trump: China wants to be friends, but is ready for a fight if necessary.

US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education.

Für US-Präsident Biden war es vermutlich das letzte Treffen mit Chinas Staatschef. Wie die Beziehungen unter der Trump-Regierung aussehen, ist ungewiss. Xi versicherte, er wolle weiterhin mit den USA zusammenarbeiten.